Last year, I reported that my local ASDA were displaying D.V.D.'s of the film 'Bad Santa' alongside more traditional Yuletide fare such as 'The Snowman' and 'Its A Wonderful Life'. Well, blow me down, they've done it again this year, only now the cover has a sticker warning that the film contains humour of a 'twisted nature'. In other words, it is aimed at moronic American teenagers who'll laugh at anything. A shocking waste of the talented John Ritter to boot. How depressing that the store does not check the contents of goods before putting them on display. Perhaps they will soon stock 'Mutiny On The Bounty' in the chocolate section?
This episode of 'Hi-de-Hi!' comes from Season 3. The cast are all present and correct, except that the lovely Gail Harrison - who played 'Val', one of the Yellowcoats - had gone to Granada to play sex-pot 'Isobel Hardacre' in the excellent 'Brass', and was replaced by the equally lovely Susan Beagley as 'Tracy Bentward'.
Ted Bovis ( Paul Shane ) receives an unexpected visit from his estranged wife 'Hillary' ( Rikki Lee ), who claims he is behind with his maintenance payments. Unless he coughs up £50 the next day, he will go to jail. Spike loans him £9, but he is still short, so Ted and the other campers set out to fleece the campers through scams, including taking couples to a dilapidated chalet and then accepting money to take them to their real ones. Ted raises £40, but what about the rest?
A good episode this, featuring a rare guest performance from Rikki Lee. She had been one half of 'Dukes & Lee', a popular club act from the '70's, who appeared on television in various variety shows including 'Seaside Special'. Ronnie Dukes, her husband, did the comedy while Rikki was an accomplished singer. His mother-in-law played the piano! Ronnie was advised by doctors to quit showbiz as the strain was proving too much for his heart, and he went along with this initially. But his love of the profession was too strong, and he eventually went back on stage - only to die of a heart attack soon afterwards. Rikki went solo for a while before also retiring. She is very good as Ted's money-grabbing wife.
Funniest moment - after making a deal with Hilary over the missing tenner, Jeffrey barges in with a cheque, which she gratefully accepts. A furious Ted tells him that she had been prepared to accept £40, but thanks to Jeffrey's unwanted intervention he now owes him £10!
The young couple are played by Leni Harper ( who appeared with Noel Edmonds on 'The Late, Late Breakfast Show' before the Bearded Wonder blamed her for its low ratings and gave her the sack ) and Sion Probert, who was the camp-as-a-row-of-tents 'Maldwyn' in the classic Welsh comedy 'Grand Slam' ( 1978 ).
This episode of 'Hi-de-Hi!' comes from Season 3. The cast are all present and correct, except that the lovely Gail Harrison - who played 'Val', one of the Yellowcoats - had gone to Granada to play sex-pot 'Isobel Hardacre' in the excellent 'Brass', and was replaced by the equally lovely Susan Beagley as 'Tracy Bentward'.
Ted Bovis ( Paul Shane ) receives an unexpected visit from his estranged wife 'Hillary' ( Rikki Lee ), who claims he is behind with his maintenance payments. Unless he coughs up £50 the next day, he will go to jail. Spike loans him £9, but he is still short, so Ted and the other campers set out to fleece the campers through scams, including taking couples to a dilapidated chalet and then accepting money to take them to their real ones. Ted raises £40, but what about the rest?
A good episode this, featuring a rare guest performance from Rikki Lee. She had been one half of 'Dukes & Lee', a popular club act from the '70's, who appeared on television in various variety shows including 'Seaside Special'. Ronnie Dukes, her husband, did the comedy while Rikki was an accomplished singer. His mother-in-law played the piano! Ronnie was advised by doctors to quit showbiz as the strain was proving too much for his heart, and he went along with this initially. But his love of the profession was too strong, and he eventually went back on stage - only to die of a heart attack soon afterwards. Rikki went solo for a while before also retiring. She is very good as Ted's money-grabbing wife.
Funniest moment - after making a deal with Hilary over the missing tenner, Jeffrey barges in with a cheque, which she gratefully accepts. A furious Ted tells him that she had been prepared to accept £40, but thanks to Jeffrey's unwanted intervention he now owes him £10!
The young couple are played by Leni Harper ( who appeared with Noel Edmonds on 'The Late, Late Breakfast Show' before the Bearded Wonder blamed her for its low ratings and gave her the sack ) and Sion Probert, who was the camp-as-a-row-of-tents 'Maldwyn' in the classic Welsh comedy 'Grand Slam' ( 1978 ).
